Mission-Focused Partnership — the Heart of the Matter

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by Cheri Wilson, M.A., CFRE – Executive Director of Advancement

As we come to the end of another fiscal year, Oakwood University is very grateful for the partnerships of our alumni and friends who have so generously supported the University’s mission through student recruiting, volunteering, career mentoring, and philanthropy.We appreciate the many philanthropic efforts of our university partners who are making a difference in the lives of our students. Thank you for the gifts of love for The Aeolians and the Ambassadors, for the scholarships and endowments, the major contributions and recurring gifts, funds for capital projects and renovations, academic departmental gifts and more — all sacrificed and designated from the heart of the giver.

This year, we were happy to see many of our graduating seniors respond to a new giving initiative. Those students who made their initial gift of $20.19 as an alumnus of Oakwood University, and pledged to “Depart to Serve” their communities, proudly wore the deep red, three-stranded cords during the Commencement exercises. The cords signified partnership in love and commitment for humanity.This gesture by the class of 2019 demonstrates that the size of the gift is not as important as the heart of the giver — their willingness to partner with each other to make a collective impact.As an honorary member of the Class of 2019 at Morehouse College, philanthropist Robert F. Smith recently inspired and impressed the world with his generous pledge to assist his classmates in paying their school loans. His gift of debt relief challenged his classmates to pay it forward, and reminded us that it’s through partnership and mission-focused relationships that the greatest impact is made for improving the lives of others.In Philippians, Paul mentions his gratitude for the partnership among members as they work together to spread the gospel. On behalf of our students, faculty, staff, and administrators, thank you for your prayerful and sacrificial partnership in the mission of Oakwood University as we strive to transform lives in service for God and humanity.

Oakwood University has multiple opportunities for those with a heart for the university’s mission to give back to the institution. We are happy to announce that Oakwood University has been approved as a Federal Charity! The dates for the Combined Federal Campaign are September 2019 through January 2020. Oakwood’s CFC code is 96964 . Watch for further details in insideOakwood and on the website.If you would like to partner with Oakwood, please go to our website at give.oakwood.edu, email cwilson@oakwood.edu , or call the Advancement Office at 256.726.7204 and a Development Officer will assist you with your questions and ideas for making a positive impact on the lives of students.